NEWS & UPDATES
Feeding a child is easy, but ending childhood hunger takes work from all of us
Each day thousands of Maine children go to school hungry. In fact, Maine is first in New England for food insecurity among our school-aged children. The long-term consequences of food insecurity are devastating. Without enough food, children have trouble concentrating, they struggle to retain information they learn, and they are more likely to have disciplinary
Portland to close overflow shelter
… Because of high demand for emergency shelter beds, much of it driven by out-of-town users, the city has been paying for an overflow shelter at the Preble Street Resource Center. When the overflow is full, people are sent to a warming center at the city’s General Assistance office, where they can sit in chairs
Maine Democrats Bending to Public Pressure for Welfare Reform
AUGUSTA, Maine – Democratic lawmakers may be feeling some pressure to take a harder line against welfare fraud following an election cycle that saw Republicans advance in the House and Senate after campaigning on welfare reform. One Democratic leader has signed on to welfare reform bills, and Republicans have renewed efforts to make it easier
General Assistance offers a fresh start
As an asylum seeker here in Maine, I am a believer in human rights for all people, and my efforts to work for human rights forced me to leave the only home I ever knew. I began to receive threats against my life when I was involved in the Global Youth Anticorruption Network as an
Didn’t come to America to get GA
In 1994, civil war broke out in my homeland, Rwanda. Like many others, I was routinely tortured and feared for my safety and my life. My only option was to escape the political insecurity and ethnic conflict that consumed my home country. I came to Maine in 2007, with a bachelor’s degree and five years
Maine immigrants speak out against welfare reform bills
AUGUSTA – Lawmakers on the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee listened to more than four hours of testimony Wednesday on a half dozen bills sponsored by state Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, aimed at making major changes to the state’s welfare and General Assistance programs. Among other things, Brakey’s bills would make those who have
Tighter rules for General Assistance in Maine divide crowd at hearing
… Antonie Bikamba, who fled political persecution and torture in his native Rwanda in 2007, said he relied on General Assistance for roughly a year until receiving a federal work permit. He ultimately went back to school, earned a master’s degree in conflict resolution and now works as a caseworker at Preble Street, a nonprofit
Third Annual Maine YogaFest Supports Preble Street Teen Center
After months of preparations, ticket sales for the third annual Maine YogaFest (MYF) opened in mid-March. The weekend festival will be held from July 10 to 12 at the East End Community School in Portland and has added more than 15 new workshops to meet the growing demand from attendees. Up to 1000 yogis are
Portland's community development grants reduced, demand remains high
PORTLAND – A plan to help people left most vulnerable by expected changes to city general assistance, homeless and public health programs will rely largely on $4.28 million in city funds and federal Community Development Block Grants. Funding from the Consolidated Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan will be the subject of an April
Bernstein Shur Announces Awards for Excellence and Pro Bono Service
Bernstein Shur, one of northern New England’s largest law firms, announced its annual pro bono and volunteer service results. In addition to three attorneys who were individually honored, the firm also is recognizing its staff group, the Sunshine Committee. Sumner T. Bernstein Pro Bono AwardAttorney David Soley, member of the firm’s Real Estate and Litigation
Letter to the editor: General Assistance helps to produce proud, contributing citizens
I came to the U.S. as an asylum seeker from Rwanda in May 2011, having fled my country because of persecution, torture and the fear of being assassinated. I left behind my wife and four children, my assets, my culture and my job. I had served as a humanitarian worker for 10 years before opening
Preble Street Job Seekers Become "Rising Stars"
The first group of students to participate in Southern Maine Community College’s new Hospitality and Customer Service Rising Stars Academy has graduated with skills that are in high demand by the hospitality trade in Maine. The academy, based on the South Portland campus, provided 96 hours of entry-level hospitality training to the unemployed and underemployed
